5 Dead and 10 Missing After Peruvian Glacier Collapse

A large portion of the Salkantay Glacier near Machu Picchu in Peru recently collapsed, leaving five dead and ten missing. Around 400 thousand cubic meters of snow, ice, rocks, and sand fell from the western face of the glacier into the Salkantaycocha lagoon. This prompted an overflow that cascaded down what is normally the Salkantay River and inundated fifteen downstream villages in the Santa Teresa community.

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Moving forward, mitigation efforts are in full swing in the villages and at the lagoon after the debris severely damaged the moraine dam that protected downstream areas. Our greatest condolences to all those affected by the collapse and subsequent flood.